Wareeze has
3 giveaways during her tour. Two lucky people will receive an e-book of Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman and one
lucky person will receive a $50 gift card.
To be entered for a chance to win one of the giveaways, leave a comment below.
And to increase your chances of winning something, feel free to visit other tour stops and leave comments there, too!

Welcome, Wareeze. Please tell us a
little bit about yourself.

I am a native
of Texas, but I have traveled throughout America and beyond. As a dreamer, I
love to visit new places where I can image a heroine meeting a hero in a
special way. I’m an avid reader (all sorts) and I love to write.

I married my
high school sweetheart and after having raised three sons plus one daughter,
our love for each other remains unshaken. Now we enjoy our eight grandchildren.
Grandchildren are grand. We can send them home, but we’re always happy for
their return.

Outside of my
family activities, I sing with the Silver Belles at my church and hate to miss
even one practice. The local chapter of RWA is also at the top of my list of
pleasures. It keeps me grounded with craft and connected with other writers.

Most of all,
I enjoy going fishing with my husband. Give me a pole and leave me alone to
bask in the sun, listening to water gurgle along the riverbanks while allowing
my mind to float away to some distance place. Ah! Perfect.

Please tell us about your current
release.

Recently
widowed Lady Laurel Laningham flees Landings to escape her untenable position.
Alone now and at the mercy of her sister-in-law, she decides to nestle under
her aunt’s wings for a spell. To add to her burdens, her young son’s new
guardian, Lord Adron Gladrey, has announced his intentions to takecomplete charge of his ward.The
killer is stalking her and a devious jewel thief is stealing the family jewels.
Can she convince her son’s guardian she is not a dangerous lunatic and is
perfectly capable of raising her son or will he always consider her
untrustworthy as a mother to his ward? Will his stubborn blindness send her
straight into the path of the murderer, or will he relent in time to save her
from following her husband into the grave?

What inspired you to write this book?

Part of a
story bothered me and the ending made me want to throw the book against the
wall. I decided to write my own version. In the book I mentioned, the mother
pretended to want her child, but she found a rich man besotted with her charms
and married him without looking back. She left her child behind to be raised by
others. I couldn’t stomach the thought of such a selfish mother.

Needless to
say, my story is nothing like the other novel. I wanted a heroine with courage
and devotion, a mother willing to protect her child at all cost. I found my
heroine much more satisfying.

Excerpt from Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman:

Freedom. Freedom. Freedom. Each rotation of the hired coach’s wheels whispered the word.
Laurel cradled her sleeping two-year-old son, the new Lord Laningham, as a
heady sense of satisfaction curved her lips. She didn’t even mind the slight
musty odor pervading the vehicle, although she leaned over and raised the
window cover for a breath of fresh air. With a sigh she settled back against
the seat. At least for a
while, Rhonda’s constant complaints would no longer ring in her ears and for
that she was devoutly thankful.

Out
of nowhere, a rider flashed by the coach window and her startled gaze locked
with his brief glance. Although she’d caught only a glimpse of the stranger, in
that instant his intense, deep-brown eyes mocked her and unease shivered down
her spine. She stared after him for a second before instinctively gathering her
child closer. Laurel planted a kiss on his blonde curls, drawing reassurance
from the nearness of his warm little body. As long as she had Jamie nothing
else mattered. Her son must remain safe.

Everything
happened at once. The coach lunged to the right and scraped against the bushes
beside the road, sending a shower of droplets splashing inside the window. Her
book and Jamie’s wooden horse thumped to the floor. The racket of brakes
screeching shrilled in her ears as the vehicle rattled and lurched out of
control.

“Jamie,”
she cried.

The
horses’ screams echoed through her head and the sudden jerk of the coach as the
team broke away from the trace chains added to her fear. When the doomed coach
started to roll onto its side, she braced her feet against the opposite bench
and clutched her son tightly against her chest. Tumbling against the seat, she
scraped her elbows and banged her head. The sensation of falling forever tensed
every muscle in her body before the force of the impact threatened to tear
Jamie from her arms. She landed between the banquettes against the door, her
howling child clutched in her arms. The carriage lantern, suspended from a hook
on the wall, swayed overhead scraping metal against metal and briefly caught
her attention.

Laurel
struggled to a sitting position, gulped a deep breath and wiped dirt from
Jamie’s face. With her heart in her throat, she examined a tiny trickle of
blood at his hairline. Thankful his injury appeared minor she clutched him to
her bosom and kissed his cheek, comforting his cries as her pulse slowed to
normal.

The
accident left her shaken. Frightened, she felt more alone than ever. If only
Robert were still alive. She stifled that thought immediately—nothing could be accomplished
by wishing for the impossible.

Laurel
drew a shaky breath and tilted her head back in order to peer at the window
above. Panic overwhelmed her and her breath came in short gasps. The banquettes
seemed to close in on her. She fought to escape her trapped position in the
overturned coach. Holding Jamie with one arm, she grasped the seat with her
other hand and struggled to her feet. Her head whirled for a second before
settling back into a deep pounding pain, while her knee and elbow throbbed in rhythm.

Ignoring
her discomfort, she glanced around. As she studied the problem, she heard the
murmur of voices and listened intently. With a sigh of relief, she recognized
the driver’s voice however the other deep tone was unfamiliar.

“Help
me,” She cried, “I’m in here.”

Only
silence echoed back and the sound of voices moved off. For a second, panic
clenched her stomach and her head pounded even harder.

“Stay
calm,” she whispered, and the words spoken aloud steadied her. She listened for
several long minutes before someone climbed atop the overturned coach. The door
was yanked open with considerable force and she breathed a sigh of relief. Gray
clouds added gloom to the inside of the carriage and a dark figure blocked out
what little light was available. She couldn’t see his face clearly, but his
broad shoulders and the arrogant slant of his head were a shadowy outline
against the stormy sky.

His
voice floated down to her. “Are you or the child injured?”

“I
think several scrapes and bruises at most.” Laurel trembled and brushed her
bonnet out of her face. She heard his quick intake of breath.

“You’re
positive? You must have taken quite a tumble when the coach overturned.
Possibly you’re more injured than you know.”

“Only
a little shaken.” She took a deep, calming breath then continued with more
force. “I’m certain we’re both fine.”

He
hesitated and exhaled deeply. “A damsel in distress then. Do you perhaps have a
name?”

Authority
rang in his voice. She clutched Jamie a little tighter and offered him a
tremulous smile. “Laurel Jane Laningham. Thank you for coming to our rescue.”
She shaded her eyes with one hand, waiting for him to return the introduction.

“Let’s
get you out of there. Hand me the boy first.”

He
reached down into the overturned coach and Laurel lifted Jamie above her head
into the waiting arms of the stranger. Her rescuer leapt to the ground with her
son. A chill of foreboding curled around her. He’d saidthe boy.
An unknown man shouldn’t know the child was a male. With every one of her
senses alert, she listened intently for the stranger to return. Saddle leather
squeaked and the thunder of hooves struck the ground in retreat.

Laurel
screamed, “Bring my son back. I’ll see you hanged for this, you blackguard.
Come back here. Help. Driver, help me.”

What exciting story are you working on
next?

An Enduring Love will be release March 2014. Edits,
blurbs, and all manner of things are required before that date.

Here is the
blurb:

Born and
raised in Latvia, Rebecca Balodis marries Rhys Sudduth, an English
diplomat. Shortly thereafter, he is summoned home to attend his father’s
death-bed. Rebecca cannot accompany him at the time and becomes trapped in the
turmoil plaguing her country. He is informed she died in the upheaval.

Nearly four years later, she escapes and arrives in
London with their son in tow. Arriving in the middle of his sister’s ball is
very awkward, especially since Rhys plans to announce his betrothal to a young
debutante later in the evening.

Trouble, tangled in suspense and danger, follow her from
Latvia. Can this pair ever find or even recognize an enduring love? Is it worth
keeping?

When did you first consider yourself a
writer?

I think I
considered myself as a writer the day I signed the contract for Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman. I’ve
written off and on for years, but I needed the validation of actually having a
book published before the fact sank into my brain.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's
your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find
time to write?

I am
retired from my job as the accounts manager for a medical equipment firm. I
write at least 100 words each day. There are times when I spend several hours
at the computer, but alas life must be lived.
An article by a writer I ran across astounded me when he revealed his
time schedule. He spent 30% of his day on social media (A must for a writer)
and 70% writing. I wondered when he had time to live.

My grandson
gets off of the bus at my house and eats a snack before we tackle homework. I
also have a very dear husband that I must consider. Meals to cook, groceries to
purchase, a house to clean and minor things like that take some of each day. If
I’m in the middle of something really important, I tell everyone to leave me
alone for a while. Sometimes it works.

What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?

Some would
find it amusing that I started my first novel at the end and wrote forward. I
don’t do that anymore, or mostly not. I am a pantser and a plotter combined. I
write a scene, and if I like it, I plot it into the script.

As a child, what did you want to be
when you grew up?

I wanted to
be a nurse because my mother was a nurse. I admired her very much. When I
entered high school, I discovered that I liked teaching. I traded it all in to
marry my high school sweetheart and raise children. I don’t regret that
decision in the least.

Anything additional you want to share
with the readers?

I hope your
love of reading will continue throughout your life. Only imagine all the places
you can visit without leaving the comfort of your home. Have a happy life and
escape into a book for a spell to replenish your inner self.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Today I’m featuring a book blurb and
excerpt for the contemporary romance novel, Untangle My Heart, by Maria K. Alexander.

Maria will award a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter
during her tour. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. And to
increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour stops and leave
comments there, too.

Blurb:

When her marriage ended in tragedy, Kate DiFrancesco rebuilt her
life, but has never gotten over the pain of what she lost. Seeking the help of
an ex-lover ignites feelings she’s promised never to have again. She’ll need to
untangle herself from dangers in her past in order to break the hard shell
around her heart.

Edward Weston has a lot to prove, both to his stuffy upper-crust
British family, and to himself. Working
alongside Kate, a woman he had a casual relationship with, stirs unexpected
feelings. Helping her family makes him realize what he's missing. For the first
time, he wants more than a one-night stand.

When Kate is threatened, Edward must overcome feeling unworthy to
protect the woman he loves and fight for the family he never thought he’d have.

Excerpt:

“Good morning,” he said. “Ready to
go?”

“I’m all set.” She swung her laptop
bag over one shoulder and grabbed the handle of her suitcase with her opposite
hand.

“I’ll take that,” Edward said,
reaching for the suitcase.

“I have it,” she snapped and held
firmly onto the handle. His old-fashioned ways sometimes annoyed her and today
was one of those days. Why was he always trying to be nice to her? It would be
easier to maintain her distance if he wasn’t so damned considerate. Damned
British manners. “I don’t need your help.”

He raised an eyebrow at her outburst
but let go of his hold on the suitcase. “Fine. I see someone didn’t get her
coffee this morning.”

“Wrong. I had two cups.” And a
restless night of sleep with alternating dreams of Edward and Lucas. Frustrated
from tossing and turning all night, she’d gotten up at four and started baking.

“I made biscotti if you’d like
some.” She handed him a white bakery bag, hoping her offering of food would
compensate for her irritable mood.

He opened the bag and pulled one
out. “Are they safe to eat or did you use arsenic instead of sugar?”

Rather than dignify him with an
answer, she leaned forward and took a bite. It was still warm and the chocolate
chips melted in her mouth. Edward’s gaze studied her mouth as she chewed and
for a minute Kate thought he may take a nibble out of her.

“Perfectly safe. I swear,” she said
after swallowing.

He popped the other half in his
mouth. “Not bad.”

“Not bad, my ass,” Kate said.

“That’s pretty fine, too.”

Author bio
and links:

A
romantic at heart, Maria K. Alexander spent hours as a young girl getting lost
in and wishing to be one of the heroines in the stories she read. Books gave
her the ability to go to another world where she loved meeting new characters,
learning about their problems, and watching them fall in love.

When
not writing, Maria loves to read, bake, downhill ski, visit the beach, and
watch romantic comedies. Maria lives in New Jersey with her husband and
children, and writes in her “spare” time between juggling a full-time job and
her kids’ busy schedules.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

During her tour (running every Wednesday from Jan 1 to Feb 19) Deborah
will be awarding two print copies (US ONLY) of Hathor Legacy: Outcast to two randomly drawn commenters. Also, a
Grand Prize of a $25 Amazon gift card will be awarded to one randomly drawn
commenter during the tour.

To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase
your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour stops and enter there,
too.

Bio:

As a little
girl when Deborah A. Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was
writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she
continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a
computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her
heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds
and in Earth's future. Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed
her first novel.

Her short
stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and her work
has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. And she recently published a
short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales. In her
"other" life, she's a freelance writer who's published two non-fiction
books and countless articles that have appeared in print and online. Visit her blog for writing tips, interviews, and updates.

It's a
futuristic romantic suspense set on the planet, Hathor. A powerful group called
the Guardians serves as the security force for Novacorp, the corporation that
runs Hathor with its ruthless monopoly. Nadira, as one of the most powerful
Guardians, is expected to use her intuition and telekinetic powers to keep the
capital city safe from thieves and intruders.

Jonathan
Keel, son of a mine CEO on the nearby planet, Astarte, is wealthy, privileged
and used to getting what he wants. When his father goes missing after a robbery
and explosion at the mine, he defies the authorities and heads to Hathor to
search for him and for the robbers.

Security is
on high alert and Nadira is charged with protecting Jon. She rescues him from a
vicious attack and discovers that the Guardians have another agenda that has
nothing to do with solving the crime.

Jonathan
finds evidence of his father's possible involvement, while his attraction to
Nadira forces her to confront all she has known about being a Guardian,
especially the rule to put duty before her personal feelings.

Struggling
with their growing desires, and chased by company security, Jon and Nadira flee
the city. But solving the crime leads them to endure betrayals from the people
closest to them, as secrets are revealed that not only link their pasts but
also threaten to destroy Jon's family and separate him from Nadira forever.

What inspired you to write this book?

I've always
been drawn to science fiction and futuristic themes. I'm a long-time fan of the
Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, and I love to ask, "what if?" So,
I wondered what would happen if people developed psychic powers, like telekinesis
and the ability to read minds. I combined that idea with the setting on a
faraway planet run by a gigantic corporation. The corporation came to mind
based on my experiences as a corporate employee--so that part was easy to
create! I love romantic suspense, which is why it's a big part of the story.

Excerpt:

Nadira
opened her eyes. Above her, the cream-colored ceiling swam into view. Shifting
herself, she braced her hands against a nearby table and lifted her head. Bad
idea. She leaned her face against the cool, glass surface of the table, and
hung on, waiting for the dizziness to pass.

It was a
violation for Guardians to use their powers against each other. The charge was
serious enough to incur banishment--something that hadn't happened in recent
memory.

Ilana
couldn't have the same abilities as a Guardian. There had to be another
explanation.

"Are
you all right?" With a groan, Jon dragged himself over and crouched beside
her. "How the hell did she do that?"

Nadira
eased herself into a sitting position, resting her back against the edge of the
table. "She must've used some kind of weapon or had a chemical
enhancement." She'd have to wait until her head was clear before she could
sort it all out.

"She
didn't use a weapon," he said, his grey eyes searching hers. "It came
from her--the same way you blasted those attackers."

"Her
abilities aren't as strong as mine…and she hasn't been properly trained, so
she's reckless. She uses all her power in her blasts." Nadira rubbed her
forehead. "I tried to read her, but I couldn't get through her
shields."

"If
she's weaker, how could she blast you?"

"She
used my abilities against me. People who are weaker can undermine someone who
has stronger energy."

Jonathan
helped her to her feet. Her legs were wobbly, but after a moment she was able
to stand on her own.

"We
have to get out of here now. They're calling security," he said.

Supported
by Jon's firm arm around her shoulders, she walked out into the corridor.

What exciting story are you working on
next?

I'm working
on a sequel to this book, called Hathor
Legacy: Burn. It'll include Nadira and Jonathan, the main characters from
the first book. I've already completed the first draft, and I can say it'll
have even more suspense and answer a few questions about the origins of the
Guardians.

When did you first consider yourself a
writer?

I've always
considered myself a writer. As a child I was always dreaming up stories. It's
something I really enjoy doing. There are things that you feel are your life
purpose, and for me, it's being a writer.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's
your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find
time to write?

I'm also a freelance
writer, so I'm always writing something. My career path started in fashion
merchandising, after that I became a copywriter. Then I took a detour into
computer programming, so I didn't write for a long time. Now I'm back to
writing full-time.

My workday
usually consists of exercise in the morning--when I manage not to talk myself
out of it! Then I start working around 10:00 am. I'm a night person, so it's
not unlikely for me to still be writing at 10:00 pm. But I make sure to take
breaks during the day.

When it's
nice out, I go for walks and exercise outdoors. That really helps me to get
ideas and keeps my energy flowing. Right now I'm working from home, and that
helps me to manage my schedule so that I can work on my book. But if I have to
work on a project at an office, it can be tough. Once you add in commuting, it
leaves much less time to get personal things done.

What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?

I write
best when I have music on. My iPod has several playlists that I use depending
on the mood. If it's action, I listen to music I can dance to. If it's
romantic, I listen to something slower. My music has to line up with what's
going on in the story. The catch is that sometimes if the beat is fast, I'm
tempted to do a little dancing in between chapters!

As a child, what did you want to be
when you grew up?

I have a
feeling that you already know the answer! I've wanted to be a writer for as
long as I can remember. There's something about storytelling that's really
exciting. It's fun to create worlds and characters.

Anything additional you want to share
with the readers?

Thanks so
much for inviting me to stop by your blog and share my book with your readers!

Catherine
will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter between
this tour and her Name Before the Masses tour. To be entered for a chance to
win, leave a comment below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to
visit other tour stops (of either tour) and leave comments there, too.

Bio:

Catherine
Castle has been writing all her life. Before beginning her career as a romance
writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles
and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and
secular market. Besides writing, Catherine loves traveling with her husband,
singing, and attending theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot
of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite
place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a
“Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.

Her debut
inspiration romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing
was an ACFW Genesis Finalist and is a 2013 EPIC finalist.

Welcome, Catherine. Please tell us
about your current release.

The
Nun and the Narc is an inspirational suspense romance about a
novice who gets caught up in a drug deal when she tries to stop it. Sister
Margaret Mary is a bit stubborn, and perhaps not the best nun material,
according to Mother Superior, but she’s determined to follow her commitment to
take her final vows. Then while on a house building mission to Mexico, she gets
captured by drug lords and imprisoned with undercover DEA agent Jed Bond.
Sparks fly between the two and destinies are changed.

What inspired you to write this book?

This book
was begun as a contest entry for the Dixie Contest. I wanted to write an
inspirational romance and thought I’d try and get some feedback by using a
contest to see how readers responded to the first few chapters. I wanted to do
something different than the inspirational romances I had read, something
outside the norm. After a false start where my heroine was a missionary, not a
nun, the book found its true form when one of my critique partners suggested I
turn the heroine into a nun. I did, and the book started writing itself. I only
had a few chapters finished when I submitted it to the contest, but was
compelled to finish it.

Jed’s head whipped around just as the car plowed through a
market stand of live chickens. Poultry, wooden cages, and feathers scattered
over the car. An angry hen dropped through the car’s open sunroof, squawking
and flapping in front of Jed, beating his head with its wings.

Margaret reached over, grabbed the bird, and threw it back
out the sunroof opening. But it was too late. The car glanced off an adobe wall
into a second market stand and careened toward another building. Jed jammed on
the brakes. The car spun three hundred and sixty degrees before screeching to a
stop.

The impact threw Margaret sideways against the passenger
window. She hit her head on the glass, the blow blinding her for a second.
Jed’s body slammed into the steering wheel setting off the horn. The wail
echoed in Margaret’s head as she struggled to remain conscious. Warmth trickled
down the side of her head. Margaret managed to focus her eyes as the noise
stopped. Two Jeds leaned toward her, in slow motion. She blinked to clear her
vision.

“You all right?” he asked.

“I think so.” Something warm and sticky seeped down her
face. She reached up and wiped her temple. “I’m bleeding,” she said as she
stared at her fingers. The words sounded slurred. At the sight of the blood on
her fingers, her stomach rolled.

What exciting story are you working on
next?

One of the
problems with having several partially finished manuscripts is deciding what
you will be working on next. I have a sweet, romantic comedy in the wings and a
sweet romantic suspense that are partially finished, an inspirational
historical romance and I just came up with an idea for two more books. I like
to work on more than one project at a time. It keeps things fresh.

When did you first consider yourself a
writer?

I’ve always
written. As a teen it was poems and sappy romances, and sci-fi/fantasy short
stories. In the 90s I began writing for a local newspaper, getting bylines and
getting paid to write. That first byline convinced me I could do more than
write for my own enjoyment. I haven’t looked back since.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's
your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find
time to write?

Even when I
was a journalist my writing was part-time. When I stopped working for other
editors, I set one or two days aside to work on my fiction. Nothing interfered
with those days. Family and friends knew if they called I would not answer the
phone. Now, it’s more of a tyranny of the urgent. If I have a deadline I will
write all day, every day until it’s done. If no deadline looms, I’ll take care
of home things, work in my garden, or be with the hubby. I do have to stop by 7
p.m. though, because I’ve discovered that if I write too late at night, I end
up pulling an all-nighter. That gets harder as I get older because insomnia is
hard on one’s health.

What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?

I usually
find my title first, and write the book blurb before I start writing the books.

As a child, what did you want to be
when you grew up?

A singer.
It was my only career choice. Now I wish I had realized I could have made a
career of writing, but like most youths, I was short-sighted.

Anything additional you want to share with
the readers?

The Nun and the Narc is a finalist in the EPIC contest in
the action/adventure romance category. I’m very excited and pleased to be
included in this prestigious contest.

Monday, January 27, 2014

During his virtual book tour, Charles will be giving away one copy of his beautifully
illustrated book, Kwanzaa: How To Celebrate It Your Home. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below.

Bio:

Dr. Charles "Chuck" Taylor, author, speaker and diversity expert is one of the leading voices in
diversity education today: www.drcharlestaylor.com.
He is currently a Professor in the School of Education at a small private
Liberal Arts College in the Midwest. Although he has written over a dozen
books, Lakeside University Cover Up is his first novel. Dr. Taylor has
also written ROARrrr-a full-length children’s musical play; Decade
of Discontent, a highly acclaimed documentary about the Milwaukee, WI
Civil Rights movement; and continues to serve as a national consultant in the
areas of diversity and inclusion

Welcome, Charles. Please tell us about
your current release.

On a cool,
autumn evening, the Lakeside University community was shaken to its core by a
cross burning on the front lawn of a house rented by two African American
students, Gloria Wilson and Ashante Melashe. Gloria’s trust
in fair play is shattered when campus officials call the
incident a harmless prank. However a glimmer of hope is restored as black and
white students rally to her side in a series of protests to force the
administration into conducting a full investigation. Undaunted, the administration devises a divide and conquer
scheme that creates a rift between black and white students. As the mistrust grows
thecampus stands on the verge of a racial explosion. Campus
leaders, seeking a way out of the crisis turn to Dr. Wendell Oliver, the country’s leading expert in diffusing
racial tension.

Dr. Oliver
suspects there is more to the cross burning that the administration is willing
to reveal. He also believes that the students are the key to resolving the
crisis if he can get them to work together. He takes the feuding students to a
wooded campsite off campus for a weekend retreat filled with action, danger, sexual attraction and racial conflict. One
of the pivotal moments occurs when Dr. Oliver asks everyone to pair up with
someone of a different race and spend substantial time together. He helps students look beyond themselves, stretch
their own boundaries and discover the secret behind
the cross burning. They learn that the cross burning is more than just about
racism. Its wicked flames shed light on corrupt cops, complicit college
administrators and misguided attitudes that point to a major cover up. When
students piece the puzzle together,
justice is finally served but it comes with a steep price. Lakeside University
will never be the same again.

What inspired you to write this book?

My work with college students and their idealism and belief
that they can tackle our deep seated racial challenges. I’ve taken white
students and students of color on weekend retreats and watched the
transformation that takes place when students allow their true feelings to emerge. Lakeside University Cover Up provides a
framework for discussing and evaluating the response to a racially motivated
“hate crime” on a college campus. It is the “perfect teaching tool” allowing
students to analyze the role of each character and discuss how they would
handle a similar racial incident on their campus. Lakeside University Cover Up
provides a very dramatic, yet real example of what it means to build an
inclusive and socially just campus. The lessons displayed in the story can be
applied to any institution and
can serve as a catalyst for real change in campus policies and climate.

Excerpt:

The nightmare started almost immediately. In the dream,
Gloria looked out a window into a deep fog, as a bright light drew closer. In
the mist she saw a silhouette of a woman nailed to a cross. She saw figures
dressed in white robes. Their taunting was shrill and harsh. She got close
enough to see the woman’s face. It was Ashante. Gloria looked again, and her
own face looked back. She felt like she was burning inside and looked down to
see flames surrounding her.

The ringing of the telephone startled Gloria awake.

She grabbed for it with one hand, wiping sweat from her
forehead with the other. "Hello?" she said, her heart pounding in her
throat.

A male voice answered. "Is this the house where the
cross was burned tonight?"

In her sleepy confusion, Gloria thought the caller might
be the campus police, finally following up on the crime. "Yes!" she
said, relieved. “Who is this?”

"I—I'm not sure why I'm calling. But what they did
was terrible,” the caller said. “You have to understand that's just how they
are. It was nothing personal.”

Gloria sat up, instantly alert. But she kept her voice
calm; afraid the caller would hang up if she sounded too excited. "You
know who did it?" she said.

"I know what I know," the caller replied.
"But, that’s not why I’m calling. I just wanted you to know it's not like
everyone on campus is racist or against black people. Some of us just get
caught up in shit and before we know it, it's too late."

"Can you tell me who did it?” Gloria asked.

"It won’t do you any good."

"Why not? They committed a crime. They should be
expelled. They should be arrested." Gloria heard the urgency in her voice
and struggled to control it.

"The university won't do anything," the caller
told her. "As far as the police are concerned, this is just a big waste of
time.”

"Could you at least tell me your name?"

"No way. I've told you more than I should have
already. Mea culpa, mea culpa. I gotta go."

And the phone went silent.

Gloria ran
to wake up Ashante. She called her name and even shook her, but received no
response other than light snoring. Then she noticed the bottle of sleeping
pills on the bedside table. She went into the kitchen for some water and drank
it slowly as she worked up the courage to look out the front window. A car
cruised by, its headlights dimmed, and she recognized the campus patrol car.
She felt reassured for a moment, but then her eyes were drawn to the circle of
scorched grass where the cross had blazed just hours before. The glow from the
streetlights revealed just enough to bring her anger rushing back.

"Why?" she asked aloud. "Why would they
do this? Why us?" Her questions
reminded her of Sgt. Thomas and his callous attitude.

"I guess we did
do something to provoke them," she whispered to the night. "We were
in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the wrong skin color."

Gloria shivered, even though it was warm inside the
house. She couldn’t shake
the feeling that someone was watching her. Despite her brave words to her
parents, she really wished she could go home. She couldn’t remember a time when
she had been so frightened. She wrapped her robe tighter and retreated to
Ashante’s room. She climbed into bed next to Ashante, shivered again, and
huddled close to her friend, trying to push her fear away long enough to fall
asleep. As the impact of the night’s event hit home, she was once again
reminded what racism was really like and how much it deeply hurt.

What exciting story are you working on
next?

I’m working
on a non-fiction reference directory: Guide
to Multicultural Resources. I’m also working on a film about people working
in a housing project that have created a model for reducing poverty and closing
the academic achievement gap. It’s a story of hope and accomplishment.

When did you first consider yourself a
writer?

Not until I
became an adult and published a national newspaper for college campuses
covering news by and about students and scholars of color.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's
your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find
time to write?

I’m an
educator. I’m a full-time college professor by date and in addition to doing a
great deal of academic writing, I love to write fiction, plays and scripts. I
just have to fit it in during the evenings and weekends.

What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?

I don’t
know if it’s interesting but I have to listen to music when I write. I especially
like listening to Luther Vandross. His music moves me emotionally and that
tends to lead to better writing on my part.

As a child, what did you want to be
when you grew up?

It changed
a lot but I always wanted to be involved in education and that’s what I’ve been
doing most of my life.

Anything additional you want to share
with the readers?

Never surrender your dreams. If
writing is something you seriously want to pursue, then go for it! You have to
treat it seriously, put in the time, learn your craft and continue to improve.

During this tour, Regan will be awarding a copy of three (3) of her books Racing with the Wind, The Holly and the Thistle, and The Shamrock and the Rose to one (1) randomly drawn commenter. To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment below. And to increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour stops and leave comments there, too.

Bio:

As
a child Regan Walker loved to write stories, particularly about adventure-loving
girls, but by the time she got to college more serious pursuits took priority.
One of her professors thought her suited to the profession of law, and Regan
realized it would be better to be a hammer than a nail. Years of serving
clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government
gave her a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the
“Crown” on its subjects. Hence her romance novels often involve a demanding
Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects as his private talent pool.

Welcome back to Reviews and Interviews,
Regan.

I’m glad to
be here.

Please tell us about your newest
release.

The
Twelfth Night Wager is
a novella that begins one October night as Christopher St. Ives, Lord Eustace
is sitting at White’s club with his friend Lord Ormond having a brandy and discussing
the leg-shackled state (Regency wording for marriage). With an ulterior motive
in mind, Ormond challenges Eustace to a wager: to seduce, bed and walk away
from a certain unnamed lady. The wager is entered in White’s betting book and
all of London begins to speculate on just which woman the redheaded rake is
after now. Little do they know it’s a comely young widow, Grace, Lady
Leisterfield - a virtuous woman.

What inspired you to write this book?

Well the idea for the novella first
came to me from my research into the betting habits of Regency men. I thought
of the title initially as the name of a song: How to Handle a Woman. When my
publisher suggested I make it a Christmas novella (my prior Christmas short story,
The Holly & The Thistle has done
well), the longer story became The
Twelfth Night Wager. I was fascinated to learn that men in Regency England
bet on anything and everything. So, why not a scandalous wager to seduce a virtuous
woman?

Excerpt from The Twelfth Night Wager:

“Speak of the devil,” said Lady Claremont.

The five women looked toward the doorway that led to the
smaller book room. There on the threshold stood Eustace, in a dark blue coat
over a white shirt and buff-colored breeches. Grace thought him very dashing.
When his eyes focused on her, followed by a warm smile, her heart skipped.

She thought she heard Priscilla Wentworth let out a sigh.
Apparently Eustace had made another conquest. How tiring it must be for him,
she thought to herself, all those ladies falling at his feet. But even to
herself, that sounded like jealousy.

He strode to their table, stopping along the way to greet
other guests playing cards. When finally he reached them, he wished the group
of five women good-day.

“How’s the card game going, ladies?”

“It’s not whist,” said the countess, “but ’twill do as it’s
loo.” She chuckled at her own rhyme, and the ivory feather above her silver
locks flicked in jaunty fashion. Emily rolled her eyes.

Eustace chuckled, too. “You look well settled into the
game.”

“Have you just come from the fox-hunt?” Grace asked.

“I have. But you can be thankful I first cleaned off the
mud. It’s positively soggy out there. Still, it was worth it; Ormond, Alvanley
and I had a good run through the woods.”

“It sounds delightful,” said Emily. “I love the sounds of
the bugle and the hounds eager to give chase to the wily fox. Did you catch
him?”

“Sadly, yes. The end of the chase is always so…final, and
somehow disappointing.”

Eustace’s words drew her attention and she noticed his
serious expression. She had the feeling he wasn’t talking only about fox-hunts.

What’s the next writing project?

The third novel in the Agents of the Crown trilogy, Wind Raven, is completed and on my
editor’s desk; it should be out in early Spring. Currently, I’m writing a
medieval, The Red Wolf’s Prize, set
in England in 1068, two years after the Conquest. The hero, Renaud de
Pierrepont is a Norman knight, one of King William’s favorites, to whom he has
given the lands of a Saxon thane who was slain at the Battle of Hastings. The
lands come with an English maiden, the Lady Serena, who hates the Normans for
taking her country, her lands and her beloved father. She has no intention of
being wed to a knight who may have killed the man she all but worshipped. Sir
Renaud (aka “the Red Wolf,” so named for the wolf he killed with his bare
hands), is a man shaped by his past who clings to a rigid set of rules (his men
call him the “warrior priest”). Serena is a rebel who plans to escape. I’m
having lots of fun with it.

What is your biggest challenge when
writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)

Surprisingly, the biggest challenge is
not the beginning, as it is for some authors. That comes easily to me, as do
the characters. No, it’s about half way in when I usually come to a “dry hole”
and have to look for the new action scenes and the continuing conflict. (I’m a
pantster, you see.) I am at the midway point now in The Red Wolf’s Prize and have found my salvation in the siege of
Exeter that occurred in 1068 when King William had to draw upon his knights to
deal with some rebellious English. Now I’m buried in siege research. (Got to
get those battle scenes right!) Meanwhile the heroine is about to be abducted
by a rival. (Are you biting your nails yet?)

If your novels require research –
please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write,
while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the
gaps?

Yes, yes, yes and yes. I begin by
doing some fundamental research on the history of the period (even within the
Regency each year had its issues and its happenings); then I research
characters (many of mine are real historic figures) and places and food. I’m
visual and I need to “see” what I’m describing. Some of my readers have
remarked that the descriptions are so vivid they feel as if they are there. I
work to make sure that is the case. Then as I begin to write, issues pop up
nearly every day. Some require hours of research. I might even order a book I
need (like I did on sieges for Red Wolf)
when in the middle. Even after the novel is done, I can be sent down a rabbit
trail of research. I remember one of my beta readers for Wind Raven (due out in early 2014) wanted me to add the hero’s
seeing the rum bottles stacked up behind the bar in the prologue. I spent a
whole day researching whether rum was in bottles in 1817, and finally decided
it was too chancy, so I left the scene with just tankards stacked up. (Rum was
usually in barrels or casks.)

What’s your writing space like? Do you
have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us
about it.

I have a wonderful room to write in
and it has a view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. I live on a hill where I
house share with friends, and my office looks west, towards the blue ocean.
It’s my “den’ where I write. I have a large table with no drawers (I’d be worried
I’d forget what is in there) with stacks of research, supplies and promotional
material along with my Mac and my printer. And I have a bookcase with my reference
books segregated by the book I’m writing or will be writing soon. It’s a
wonderful workspace any author would love. I don’t often stare out the window,
but when I do, I’m inspired.

What authors do you enjoy reading
within or outside of your genre?

These days because of my active Regan’s Romance Reviews blog (http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com),
I mostly read Historical Romance—all subgenres save for fantasy and time
travel. I have a list of favorite authors, of course, and those are seen on my
blog. But the short list would be Virginia Henley, Heather Graham (aka Shannon
Drake), Elizabeth Stuart, Marsha Canham, Shirlee Busbee, Kathleen Givens, Victoria
Holt and Jennifer Blake in the classic authors category. In the newer authors
category, it would be Joanna Bourne, Madeline Hunter, Kaki Warner and Amanda
Hughes, among others.

Anything additional you want to share
with the readers today?

I love to hear from readers. When one
heard that part of Wind Raven would
be set in the waters off Puerto Rico, she suggested I locate a scene in one of
the bioluminescent bays. As a result, she will get the book as my gift because
I used her suggestion.

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About Me

I'm a NH native and love New England. I love writing about the region, exploring it on foot, on my bicycle, and in my car. There are so many small communities and fun and interesting people in this area, that I could be here a lifetime and not do all it is I want to do. :)

I'm a moderator at The Writer's Chatroom that hosts live chats with guest authors on Sunday nights 7-9PM EST. Join the e-mail list to get notifications of upcoming guests, then stop in and join the conversation!